The Brooklyn Nets’ four game winning streak was snapped by the hottest team in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns, on Saturday night. They did it in dominant fashion, too. Devin Booker (30 PTS, 9-18 FG) led the way for the Suns, lighting the Nets up right from the tip off.
With Brooklyn having their way on the glass, outrebounding Phoenix 47-41, turnovers were the Nets’ downfall. They compiled 20 turnovers and James Harden (12 PTS, 14 ASTS, 13 REBS) notched seven of them. The Suns’ suffocating defense reigned supreme, but still, a lot of these turnovers were sloppy and unforced.
A discrepancy on the field goal attempts were also an issue for Brooklyn. They put up eight more shots than the Nets while only shooting 30% (7-for-23) from downtown. Even with the Suns shooting close to that at 34%, they got up 15 more threes than the Nets. Without Joe Harris, Brooklyn couldn’t match their presence on the perimeter.
Things didn’t end there either too. To add insult to injury, the Suns’ pace was just too much to handle. Brooklyn simply couldn’t keep up. After leading by as many as 22, Phoenix defeated Brooklyn 113-107 and the Nets didn’t even capture a lead throughout the entire contest.
Nets head coach Steve Nash and his squad will be back at it again on Tuesday against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center.